Means for positioning drawinglayout tables



July 2, 1946. H. G. BUTLER MEANS FOR POSITIONING DRAWING-LAYOUT TABLES s Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 27, 1943 6%), #4251 H4! ATTORNEYS July 2, 1946.

H. G. BUTLER.

MEANS FOR POSITIONING DRAWING-LAYOUT TABLES Filed Aug. 27, 1943 s Sheets- Sheet 2 INVENTOR 1 .22

HAS ATTORNEYS y 3, 19454 H. G. BUTLER 2,403,338

MEANS FOR POSITIONING DRA ING-LAYOUT TABLES Filed Aug. 27, 194s s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR fiam 5 81226;, C 54, v: 4

Ma ATTORNEYS Patented July 2, 1946 MEANS FOR POSITIONING DRAWING:

LAYOUT TABLES.

Harold Guy Butler, Oxford, England, assignor to Harris and Sheldon Limited, Birmingham, and Joseph Sankey and Sons Limited, Bilston,

' Staffordshire, England Application August 27, 1943, s'eria1No.-500,2 c

In Great Britain May 5, 1943 .This invention relates to tables, benches or supports, for use in lofting or the laying out 01 drawings, where a full size drawing of an article or part to be manufactured is made upon a plurality of separate plates, panels or the like, each of which may be used as an actual tern plate for producing a portion of the article, or

from each of which a full size reproduction may" be made, such,'for example, as by'photographio means. Whilst the drawing is being made the plates, panels or-the like, are each mounted upon aseparate table, bench or support, bein suitably positioned on the latter, and being provided, for example, with holes at the corners for receiving fixing-screws, or for fitting over pins or dowels onthe table, bench or support, theplates or panels, with the tables or supports, being arranged side by side, and/or in rows, to make up an area of the size required, according'to the size of the articl or part which is to be produced. Since that part of the drawing on each plate or panel represents a specific portion of the complete article which is'to be produced it will "be obvious that the tables, benches or supports,

vide improved and efiicient means for enabling the tables, benches or supports which carry the plates, panels or the like, to be kept or maintained in their correct relative positions whilst they'are in use, and also to enable them to be correctly repositioned, if necessary, after they have been moved or separated. A further object is to provide means for enabling the tables, benches or supports, to be adjusted so that all of the plate or panels are perfectly level with one another, in the same plane.

According to the invention, a table, bench or support, for a plate, panel or the like, for use in the laying out of full-scale drawings, is provided with an abutment or bufier which'is adapted to be adjusted so that it may be caused to contact with, or to engage, an adjacent table,'benchor support, or an opposed part thereon, when the relative positions of the tables, benches or sup ports, are correct, after which the latter may be held together by bolts or other means, so that the said abutment or bufier is kept in close en- 9 Claims. (01. 311-4) gagement with the said adjacent table or opposed part. The correct positions of the tables, benches or supports may be obtained initially by a masterplate' or member which is placed over two or more tables, benches or supports, or over portions thereof, suitable means being'provided for correctly locating the said master-plate 0r member, whichmay be'temporarily'secured by screws, or may have holesfor engaging pins ordowels' ontlie tables, benches or. supports. Once the correct" positions forthe latter have been found it is'only necessary'to adjust the abutments un; til they contact with the parts with which they aritoco-operate andithcreto secure them together by suitable means, such as ,by boltsflThe adjacent sideslof'a plurality of tables or supports may carry pairs'of opposed abutments' or buiiersone-or both pairs being adjustable. Each abutmentv or buffer may, for example, consistv of an externally threaded part screwing into a bush or threaded hole inthe side of the table, whilst the abutments or bufiers'may be tubular to receive coupling bolts or rods which serve to connect or look the tables together after the abut ments or buffers have been adjusted; or other coupling means, such as clamps, may be pro-' vided to holdthe tables and abutments together.

To enable all of the tables or supports to be adjusted so that the plates or panelswhich they carry lie perfectly level 'the leg of the tables may be adjustable in length, bein provided, for example, with feet carried by rods screwing into the 1egs.. V

.Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a perspective view of a drawing-layout or lofting table provided with positioning means,

constructed in accordance with this invention, showing the layout-plate in position, the said plate and'the top of the table, being broken away.

Figure 2 is'a plan view'of one end of the. table, with the layout plate and the top of the table bro-ken awayp .Figure 3 represents aside elevation of one end of-the table, upon a largerscale, showing how the adjustable abutment or buffer projects horizontally from the table.

Figure 4 is a side elevation showing several drawing-layout tables secured together, with the opposed abutments or buffers in engagement.

1 Figure 5represents a vertical section through the ends of'two adjacent tables, showing the adjustable abutments or buffers (in elevation) engaging one another and securedtogether, and showing also the manner in which the drawing-. layout'platesmay be positioned;

Figure 6 illustrates .a section taken through Figure 7 is a sectional view of one of the feet for levelling the table. I Figure 8 shows a form of ball castor with ftwo engaging buffer devices; showing the bolt I employed to secure them together.

r of the table, showing the screw means provided Figure 9 is a section through the adjacent ends of two drawing-layout tables'fitted with abut ments of a modified construction and adjustable 1 by wedges, a clamp being providedfor securing the tables togetherr Figure 10' represents ahorizontal section' through one of the abutments shown in Figure 9.

. Figure 11' shows tables fitted withbuffers-of another construction, and adjustable; byQcarn; H

means. 7

Figure 12 illustrates modified means for securing two tables together, after the abutments have been. adjusted to contactzwith on e another..

with l Figure .13.shows.a modified formbf foot which the. tables may be providecl Referring to Figures 1.. to.7 of;the...drawings,

the fullescaleclayoutor lofting tables leach com.-

prise. a. metal;to.p.framelisupported by legs 3 j and provided with .a top .4. which. is vadaptedflto Y receive aworkeplate or. paneltauponwhich the.

drawing is tobe made,1-the..said.top 4. being cone. veniently made. of plywood; or. it: maybe of any othersuitable material. .-.The. .top.frames.- 2 of "all of the tables .are each provided, according to this invention, at each endwith a pair. of adjustable abutments-or-bu1fers..6.. arranged .nearthe.

opposite corners ofthe table, four similar abut-1 of the table, with. one 'at..each corner, as shown in Figure lofthe drawings. .The abutmentsorl buffers 6.. at, the onesideor end of one layout ments'or :b-ufiers 6 being providedat each side table areadapted to be set so that they contact withthe. abutments orbuffers B-carriedby the adjacent side or end of thenext layout .table only when the tables are .initheircorrect relative positions. The .legs 3 of the tables-may be. suitably braced together, 1 and the top frame 2 of each table. is providedwithdeep vertical walls through whichthe abutments or buffers fi,-which are tubular and are externally-threaded; are. arranged I to pass, the said abutments being disposed horizontally so that they project outfrom the said top frame. Each tubular abutment or buffer 6 .is

1 which thelegs of thetables may be provided.

. 4i 9, being fitted at its one said top frame by welding orother means, and arranged to extend up through holes in the plywood topf 4 of the table. These bosses H are formed with threaded holes to receive screws 12, which serve to position, and temporarily to secure, the layout plate 5 to the table-top, the

screws being passed through holes provided in the corners of the said plate, and being screwed Y intogthe bosses H, as shownin Figure 5 of the arranged to'screw into a threadedholein a nut or bush 1 (see Figures 5 and 6) welded orotherwise fixed to the inner face of the respective vertical wall of the top frame 2 of the table, so that the'head-en'd 6 of the abutment is presented outwards and may engage the head-end 6 of an abutment 6 projecting from the side or end of an adjacenttable or support. Thethreaded shank of each tubular abutment or buifer'fi extends inwards from the vertical wall of thetop frame 2 and is fitted with a lock-nut 8, whilst 'eachabutment or buffer isopen-ended, the arrangement being such that when any two drawdrawings; or. the holes'in the layout plate5 may bearrangedto fit-over positioning pins projecting-up from the tables. By detaching the screws lithe layout plate=5 may be readily removed,

henreq i e The tops 4 of the tables I, and the lofting plates 1 5; are of-the same size, and a number of the' tables are adapted to be placed side by side and end toendin rows, so that the plates 5 which they, carrytogether. form an areafof a suitable.

sizefor receiving afull-size. drawing of the-part or article which is to. be. manufactured; The. arrangement is such that, the. plates. 5' all.1iev close together in the same .plane, and itis essen-Q. tial not only. that all. of the. plates. should. be... perfectly lev.el,. but; thatthe .tables. shouldfbecorrectly. lined up in .all, directions, that. is they must always; be. correctly. positioned relatively to one another... otherwise .the..article.s or. part pro-. duced from the composite vdrawing. will. obvi-.

This. correct,- positioning {of.

ously be. incorrect; the tables may. be readily. obtained. byl means of the adjustable-. abutmentsJor. buffers.,6;.iionce..the-. V proper positions of .the tables [has been initiale.

1y obtained, and thetablesl maybe separated as ften as desired. the abutments. or. buffered.- enabling them to. .bealwaysv placed together. again in their correct relative. positions- Thecorrect setting 'of-ithe tables; I:.may..bei

obtained initially. by. means. of ai masten-plate (not shown) of a sufficient ;.size .to. extendvover. a

plurality of the tables, or. over-portions thereof,- and provided .with .holes which are. engaged .by

the screws .l 2, so that whenthje latterarescrewed; into the bosses l I; the.tablesarecorrectly aligned. The. abutments. or buffers 6:. at the one side. orendpf one.tablelarearranged.v V

in all directions.

so that they .thenlie, immediately opposite the.

abutments or buffers flat-the opposedsideor-end of an adjacent table. The opDOsedabdtrh-ents 6.. are vthen adjusted so that they justpcontact with one another, after whichthey, may be :secured by the lock-nuts .8, and a;.coupling.bo1t 9 ispassed through them, so thateachpair of :opposed 'abute... merits, and'eonsejquently the adjacent tables, are thus positively secured together. All of ;the tables I are connected togetherin thismanner, so. that they cannotmove. out of their. correct positions,

but after the drawinghas been made .the tables.- 7

I, with their separate .plates ,5;. may be. readily separated, if desired, the al'iutrnents;or; buffers.

' 6 ensuring that theyv may always-be ,correct1y repositioned when. broughtv together.- again.

The lock-nuts 8 maybeomitted, if desired; but

the provision of. theseglockenuts. prevents the abutments or bolts 6 :from being. inadvertently unscrewed when the tables have been separated.

To enable the tablesfl to beelevelled, so. thatv the .tops 4 ofall 0f -the tables,lie.in the same; horizontal plane the .legs 3 of each tableare pro.-.. vided' with levelling means comprisingfeet I3 swivelly attached to the.v ends. of bolts Ql lgwhich.

.1 5 screw into thelower Tends of the .legs. As shown;-

end with a wing nut 7 in. The top frame 2 of each layout table is fitted at the corners with bosses ll secured to the in Figure '7; the-lower-zend'of each leg 3is'bentin to provide a horizontal part l5, thelatter carrying a nut 16 adapted to receive the bolt l4, so that 'by screwingthe bolt more or less through the nut lfithe' position of the foot .l3in rela tion to the end of the table leg may be varied. The bolt may then be secured by a lock-nut ll.

By suitably adjusting the bolts 14 ion" theulegsY of the tablesiit willbe readily seen that the tops of all of the tables may be easily arrangediso that they lie perfectly level and all in the'same plane. i

The table legs 3 may be fitted with ball castors, if desired, each leg 3, for example, being provided with a ball l8 projecting from a housing' l9'which is fitted with a closure member-23 carried'by a rod 2|, the latter screwing into a nut or bush '22 on the end of theleg. By adjusting the rods 2! on the legs the 'tables may be levelled, as in the preceding"constructiom Any other form of castor may beprovided, and the table legs may befitted with any suitable-levelling means.

Instead of the opposed abutments or buffers on the drawing-layout tables'being screwthreaded,

This wedge is arranged to pass through a 1 transverse aperture 26 in the slidable abutment or buffer 23, as shown in Figure 10, the said aperture having an inclined face 26 which co-operates with the inclined face of the wedge member, and when the wedge 25 is moved inwards the abutment or bufier 23 may be caused to slide outwards into engagement with the opposing buffer on the adjacent table. The wedge may carry a screwed shank 21, so that it may be held in its adjusted position by a nut 28; or it may be held in place by other means. The inclined face 26 of the abutment or bufier may be kept up against the inclined face of the wedge, when the tables are separated, by means of a spring 29. The tables may be held together in their correct posi tions, after the necessary adjustments have been made to the abutments, by means of a clamp 30 engaging the top frames 2 of adjacent tables, as shown in Figure 9, thus maintaining the opposed abutments in contact.

In the construction illustrated in Figure 11 cam means are shown for adjusting the abutments, each abutment comprising a part 3| fixed to the top frame 2 of the table and havin an outwardly-presented cam-face 3F, and a co-operating rotatable part 32 with a cam-face 32 opposed to the cam-face of the part 3|. The parts of the two opposed buffers are coupled together by a central bolt 33 fitted with a wing-nut 34, and after the rotatable cam-parts 32 of opposed abutments have been turned to contact with one another, the nut 34 on the central bolt is tightened to secure the parts together, and hold the tables in their correct positions. The rotatable part 32 of each abutment or buffer may carry an integral sleeve 35 fitting into the co-operating fixed part 3|, so that the parts are retained together when the bolt 33 is removed.

The drawing-layout tables or supports may obpositions.

viously be ofany suitable construction. Also, ad-

justable abutments'or buffers of any other form.

necteduto one of the tables and being provided with .a hook-end for engaging over a pin or stud adjustable abutments are clamped firmly together. This arrangement obviates the necessity for a bolt connecting together the abutments.

If desired, tables may be provided having legs 3 fitted with feet 40 and rounded upon their underside as shown in Figure 13, so that the tables may be more readily pushed about into different positions, thus facilitating alignment of the tables.

The feet 40 may be each carried by an adjustable screwed rod or bolt I4, to permit of the table being levelled.

Any desired number of abutments or buffers may be provided at the ends or sides of the tables or supports.

Iclaim: I I 1 1. Means for use in laying out of drawings, comprising adjacent supports for the drawings,

screw-threaded partscarried by opposed portions of the supports, tubular abutments projecting horizontally from the supports and adjustably engaging the said screw-threaded parts, so that abutments on adjacent supports may be set to contact with one another when the supports are in their correct relative positions, and coupling bolts passing axiallyflthrough opposed tubular abutments for securing them in their. adjusted positions.

2. Means for use in laying out of full-scale drawings, comprising adjacent supports for the drawings, adjustable abutments carried b opposed parts of the tables and projecting horizontally from the latter, and wedges for moving the opposed abutments into contact with one another when the supports have been set in their correct relative positions.

3. Drawing layout tables, drawing layout plates, means for positioning a drawing-layout Plate on each table, internally-threaded socket members on opposed parts of the tables, externally-screwed tubular abutments projecting horizontally from the tables and adjustably engaging the socket members, so that abutments on adjacent tables may be set to contact with one another when the tables are in their correct relative positions, and bolts passing axially through opposed tubular abutments for securing them in their adjusted positions and for holding the tables together, 1

4. Means for laying out full-scale drawings, comprising supports for the drawings, opposed bufier devices on the supports, means for adjusting the buffer devices so that they contact with one another when the supports are in their correct relative positions, and clamps for securing the supports together after the buffer devices have been adjusted to contact with one another.

p 5;, Means for. usexcin laying. out I drawinga com prising, adjacent tables for supporting the? draw-1 ings, opposed: ahutrnents 'onthe tables, carnmeans for adjustin the abutments', andrmeans:

for holding the tables together bulanabutments forsecuring therntoge'ther afterv adjustment; r

7. Means for; use

after the, adjustment of the-abutmentsq 1 1 6. Means for use;in'the layout: ofFdrawings; comprising adjacent" tables for supporting the drawings, oppo'sedtubular abutments projecting: from the tables, means for. adjustingthe abut- 1 0 ments relatively to the-tables so that theyico'nt'act f t whenthe tables are in their 'correct relative. posi-; tions, and means'passingthrough the-opposed:tu'-.

adjustedlpositionsi with? thelopposed ficeshf. the

adjustedl'buffersiin contac '8- TMe'Ian's for use'in-Jay'ing bufiers'ic'arricd by and lproj eating from the vtables andthaving opposed:- if aces. adapted to contact withionezanother, means for adjusting on'ei'of the buffersirelatively to the table-b which it is carried, sothatthe distance between adjacent'tables isivaried-i wheni the buffers are; in' contact, and

meansiseparate from th'e buffers," for holding .the tables together in their adjusted positions with the opposed; faces 0f;the bufiers in contact.

9;. Means for; use in the-layout. ofzrdrawingst comprising. adjacent-,shDDOrts-i fora-the drawings,

opposedztubularg abutment carried by and pro jectin'g fromz-thesupports means"E for adjusting; I I

one, of "theopposed abutments ;relativelyto ;the drawing support byewhich itis carried, so that the i distancebetweenadjacent drawing supports is.

varied? when the abutments are in contact and means passingthr'ough'the-opposed tubular; abut- 'ment for securingthem together. 7

HAROLD GUY BUTLER.

out: fuli scale draw-= ings' comprising; adj'acentrtables for: the drawings, 

